List of heavy metal bands
Encyclopedia
This is a list of heavy metal
artists.
into a new genre which would be called heavy metal.
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|AC/DC
|| 1973–present || Although the band are commonly classified as hard rock, and considered pioneers of heavy metal they have always classified their music as "Rock n' roll." Their 1980s album Back in Black
is the best-selling rock album of all time.
|-
|Accept
|| 1968–1989, 1992–1997, 2004–2005, 2009–present || Accept played an important role in the development of speed metal
and Teutonic thrash metal
, being part of the German
heavy/speed/power metal scene which emerged in the early-to-mid 1980s.
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|Bang|| 1970–1973, 2001–2004||
|-
|Black Sabbath
|| 1968–2006 || Regarded as one the Pioneers of Heavy Metal, Black Sabbath was formed by Ozzy Osbourne
(lead vocals), Tony Iommi
(guitar), Geezer Butler
(bass guitar), and Bill Ward (drums). Alcohol abuse led to Ozzy Osbourne getting fired and replaced with former Rainbow
vocalist Ronnie James Dio
, and enjoyed success with the release of Heaven and Hell
in 1980 and Mob Rules
in 1981. Throughout the late eighties and early nighties Black Sabbath went through a number of different vocalists and enjoyed small success with Headless Cross
, TYR, Cross Purposes
and Forbidden, released in 1989, 1990, 1994 and 1995 respectively.
|-Black Valdyr || 2009–present ||
|-
|Blue Cheer
|| 1966–1972, 1974–1976, 1978–1979, 1984–1994, 1999–2009 ||
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|Blue Öyster Cult
|| 1967–present ||
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|Breaking Benjamin
|| 1998-present ||
|-
|Budgie
|| 1967–present ||
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|Buffalo
|| 1971–1977 ||
|-
|Black Label Society
|| 1998–present ||Black Label Society is a heavy metal band formed by Zakk Wylde, with nine studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, one EP, and three video albums released since formation of the band.
|}
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|Cactus
|| 1970–1972, 2006–present ||
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|Cirith Ungol
|| 1972–1992 ||
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|Deep Purple
|| 1968–1976, 1984–present ||
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|Def Leppard
|| 1977-present ||
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|Dust
|| 1971–1978||
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|Flower Travellin' Band
|| 1968–1973, 2007–present||
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|-
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|Grand Funk Railroad
|| 1968–1977, 1980–1983, 1996–present||
|}
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|Hard Stuff
|| 1971–1973||
|-
|Helloween
|| 1984-present||
|-
|The Jimi Hendrix Experience
|| 1966–1970 || Jimi Hendrix
established a sonically heavy yet technically proficient bent to rock music as a whole, significantly furthering the development of hard rock and paving the way for heavy metal.
|-
|High Tide || 1969–1970||
|}
|-
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|Iron Butterfly
|| 1966–present ||
|-
|Iron Maiden
|1975-present
|
|}
|-
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|Jerusalem
|| 1972||
|-
|Jethro Tull
|| 1967–present || Won first heavy metal
Grammy award.
|-
|Josefus
|| 1969–2005||
|-
|Judas Priest
||1969–present|| Judas Priest are considered to be one of the most significant bands in heavy metal. They introduced a newer metal sound with their 1980 release British Steel
. Judas Priest are also well known for eliminating most of metal's blues influence.
|}
|-
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|Kiss
|| 1972–present || Kiss rose to prominence in the mid and late-1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting, smoking guitars, and pyrotechnics.
|}
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|Led Zeppelin
|| 1968–1980|| With their heavy, guitar-driven sound, Led Zeppelin are regarded as one of the first heavy metal bands. Their song Stairway to Heaven
is often named the most played song in the history of rock and metal radio.
|-
|Lucifer's Friend
|| 1970–1982, 1993–1997 ||
|-
|Lynyrd Skynyrd
|1964–present
|
|}
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|Manowar || 1980-present ||
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|Meat Loaf
|| 1967–present ||
|-
|Mercyful Fate
|| 1981–1985, 1992–2000 (hiatus) ||
|-
|Montrose
|| 1973–1976, 2005 ||
|-
|Motörhead || 1977–present ||
|-
|Mountain
|| 1969–1972, 1973–present||
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|Nazareth
|| 1968–present||
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|Necromandus
|| 1970–1973||
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|Night Sun
|| 1970–1973||
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|Pentagram
|| 1971–1976, 1978–1979, 1981–present || Along with Black Sabbath, Pentagram is considered one of the most important groups in the creation of doom metal
.
|}
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|Queen
|| 1970–1997 ||
|-
|Quiet Riot
|| 1975–2008||
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|Rainbow
|| 1975–1984, 1993–1997 ||
|-
|Running Wild
|| 1976–2009, 2011-present || With speedy riffs and themes about the open sea, Running Wild has been labeled as the world's first pirate metal band.
|-
|Rush
|| 1968–present ||Known for their musicianship, this trio has created complex, often epic compositions, with eclectic lyrical motifs, and changing styles over the years. Beginning with blues-inspired on their first album, then encompassing hard rock, progressive rock, a period with heavy use of synthesizers, returning to a modern hard rock sound. Never truly mainstream nor universally lauded, Rush nonetheless have had great commercial success (behind only The Beatles and Rolling Stones in the top 3 rock bands with most consecutive gold albums) and received numerous awards and nominations, with each member having received acknowledgment of their proficiency through coverage in a variety of music publications. They have been cited as an influence by various musical artists both within the scope of "heavy metal" and without.
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|Saxon
|| 1976–present||
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|Scorpions
|| 1965–present||
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|-
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|Thin Lizzy
||1969–1984, 1996–present, ||
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|Twisted Sister
|| 1972–1988, 1997–present ||
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|Trust
||1977–present ||
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|UFO
|| 1969–1988, 1992–present ||
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|Uriah Heep
|| 1969–present ||
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|Van Halen
|| 1976–present || Van Halen set the stage for many successful heavy metal bands in the 1980s. They are considered ahead of their time and have had an impact on metal that rivals even Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Metallica. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen
is also considered to be one of the most influential guitarists in heavy metal for his use of shredding and for popularizing two-handed tapping
.
|-
|Vanilla Fudge
|| 1967–1970, 1982–1984, 1987–1988, 1991, 1999–present ||
|}
|-
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|Warhorse
|| 1970–1974, (partial reunions: 1985, 2005)||
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|rowspan=2|X Japan
|1982-1997
|rowspan=2|X Japan (エックス ジャパン, Ekkusu Japan) Is a popular Japanese rock band. The group was formed in Tateyama, Chiba Yoshiki and Toshi in 1982 and disbanded in 1997, renovated in 2007. Originally named X (エックス, Ekkusu), Shot to fame with their second album Blue Blood. His music is characterized by a taste for classic metal, mixed with fast drum lines and variable guitar lines with a strong progressive, and greatly influenced by classical music. X Japan has sold over 30 million albums and singles along with 2 million videos.
X Japan was dissolved in 1997 due to neglect of Toshi, arguing this rejection to sing sad songs at the moment to lead a happy life. In May 1998, Hide died and the rest of the group, including Taiji, gather to play at his funeral. On October 18, 2007 was officially announced the return of the group.
|-
|2007- Present
|}
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|Y&T
|| Oakland, California
, United States ||1974–1991, 1995–present
|}
|-
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Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
artists.
Original movement: 1967–1979
In the late 1960s a number of bands began pushing the limits of blues-rockBlues-rock
Blues rock is a hybrid musical genre combining bluesy improvisations over the 12-bar blues and extended boogie jams with rock and roll styles. The core of the blues rock sound is created by the electric guitar, piano, bass guitar and drum kit, with the electric guitar usually amplified through a...
into a new genre which would be called heavy metal.
A
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|AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
|| 1973–present || Although the band are commonly classified as hard rock, and considered pioneers of heavy metal they have always classified their music as "Rock n' roll." Their 1980s album Back in Black
Back in Black
Back in Black is an album by Australian rock band AC/DC. It is the seventh Australian and sixth internationally released studio album by the band....
is the best-selling rock album of all time.
|-
|Accept
Accept
Accept is a German heavy metal band from the town of Solingen, originally assembled by former vocalist Udo Dirkschneider, guitarist Wolf Hoffmann and bassist Peter Baltes. Their beginnings can be traced back to the late 1960s...
|| 1968–1989, 1992–1997, 2004–2005, 2009–present || Accept played an important role in the development of speed metal
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music....
and Teutonic thrash metal
Teutonic thrash metal
Teutonic thrash metal is a regional scene of thrash metal music that originated during the 1980s in Germany. Along with Bay Area thrash metal, East Coast thrash metal, and Brazilian thrash metal, it was one of the major scenes of thrash metal in the 1980s....
, being part of the German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
heavy/speed/power metal scene which emerged in the early-to-mid 1980s.
|-
B
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|Bang|| 1970–1973, 2001–2004||
|-
|Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
|| 1968–2006 || Regarded as one the Pioneers of Heavy Metal, Black Sabbath was formed by Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
(lead vocals), Tony Iommi
Tony Iommi
Anthony Frank "Tony" Iommi is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as the founding member of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and its sole continual member through multiple personnel changes.Iommi is widely recognised as one of the most important and influential guitarists in...
(guitar), Geezer Butler
Geezer Butler
Geezer Butler is an English musician and songwriter. Butler is best known as the bassist and lyricist of heavy metal band Black Sabbath. He was also involved in Heaven & Hell from 2006 to 2010.-Career:Butler formed his first band, Rare Breed, with old friend John "Ozzy" Osbourne in the autumn of...
(bass guitar), and Bill Ward (drums). Alcohol abuse led to Ozzy Osbourne getting fired and replaced with former Rainbow
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
vocalist Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio
Ronald James Padavona , better known as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with, amongst others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio, which means God in Italian. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser...
, and enjoyed success with the release of Heaven and Hell
Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath album)
Heaven and Hell is the ninth studio album by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in April 1980. This is their first album featuring Ronnie James Dio, and first with producer Martin Birch.-Album information:...
in 1980 and Mob Rules
Mob Rules
Mob Rules is Black Sabbath's tenth studio album, released in November 1981. It peaked at number 29 on the U.S. charts.In the UK, it became the fourth Black Sabbath studio-album to attain Silver certification by the British Phonographic Industry, achieving this in February 1982.-Album...
in 1981. Throughout the late eighties and early nighties Black Sabbath went through a number of different vocalists and enjoyed small success with Headless Cross
Headless Cross
Headless Cross is the fourteenth album by heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in April 1989.This is the band's second album to feature singer Tony Martin and the first to feature drummer Cozy Powell.-Album information:...
, TYR, Cross Purposes
Cross Purposes
-Personnel:*Tony Martin – vocals*Tony Iommi – guitars*Geezer Butler – bass*Geoff Nicholls – keyboards*Bobby Rondinelli – drums-References:"Evil Eye" was written by Martin, Iommi and Butler with Eddie Van Halen, but Van Halen was not credited, due to his affilliation with Warner Bros...
and Forbidden, released in 1989, 1990, 1994 and 1995 respectively.
|-Black Valdyr || 2009–present ||
|-
|Blue Cheer
Blue Cheer
Blue Cheer was an American psychedelic blues-rock band that initially performed and recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was sporadically active until 2009...
|| 1966–1972, 1974–1976, 1978–1979, 1984–1994, 1999–2009 ||
|-
|Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult, often abbreviated BÖC, is an American rock band, most of whose members first came together in Long Island, NY in 1967 as the band Soft White Underbelly...
|| 1967–present ||
|-
|Breaking Benjamin
Breaking Benjamin
Breaking Benjamin is an American rock band from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, currently consisting of Benjamin Burnley and Chad Szeliga. The band has released four studio albums to date and a greatest hits album that was released on August 16, 2011. The group initially went on indefinite hiatus due...
|| 1998-present ||
|-
|Budgie
Budgie (band)
Budgie is a Welsh Hard Rock/Heavy Metal band from Cardiff. They are widely considered as one of the first heavy metal bands and a seminal influence to many acts of that scene, with fast, heavy rock being played as early as 1971. The band has been noted as "among the heaviest metal of its day"...
|| 1967–present ||
|-
|Buffalo
Buffalo (band)
Buffalo was an early heavy metal band formed in Sydney, Australia in 1971. The band left a legacy with Australia's heavy metal, pub rock and alternative rock movements. The band had evolved from the Brisbane blues-rock outfit Head, which was originally formed in 1968 by Dave Tice and Peter Wells...
|| 1971–1977 ||
|-
|Black Label Society
Black Label Society
Black Label Society is a heavy metal band formed by Zakk Wylde, with nine studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, one EP, and three video albums released since formation of the band.-Formation and Sonic Brew :...
|| 1998–present ||Black Label Society is a heavy metal band formed by Zakk Wylde, with nine studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, one EP, and three video albums released since formation of the band.
|}
C
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|Cactus
Cactus (band)
Cactus is an American hard rock supergroup, formed in 1970.-Biography:Cactus was initially conceived as early as late 1969 by the Vanilla Fudge rhythm section of bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice with guitarist Jeff Beck and Xylophone player Adele Smitchell acted as the counterpart and...
|| 1970–1972, 2006–present ||
|-
|Cirith Ungol
Cirith Ungol (band)
Cirith Ungol was a Californian heavy metal band who formed in 1972 and split up in May 1992. They drew influences from other metal groups such as Black Sabbath and Thin Lizzy, as well as Iggy and the Stooges...
|| 1972–1992 ||
|}
D
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|Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
|| 1968–1976, 1984–present ||
|-
|Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
|| 1977-present ||
|-
|Dust
Dust (band)
Dust was an American hard rock band active in the early 1970s.Dust was formed in the late 1960s by Richie Wise and two teenagers, Kenny Aaronson and Marc Bell. Additionally, Kenny Kerner wrote the group's lyrics, and acted as their producer and manager...
|| 1971–1978||
|}
E
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F
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|Flower Travellin' Band
Flower Travellin' Band
is a Japanese heavy psych outfit that was first active in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They reunited in 2007. Vocalist Joe Yamanaka died on August 7, 2011 after a battle with lung cancer.-History:...
|| 1968–1973, 2007–present||
|}
G
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|Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad is an American rock band that was highly popular during the 1970s. Grand Funk Railroad toured constantly to packed arenas worldwide. A popular take on the band during its heyday was that, although the critics hated them, audiences loved them...
|| 1968–1977, 1980–1983, 1996–present||
|}
H
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|Hard Stuff
Hard Stuff
Hard Stuff was an English hard rock group, which included John Du Cann and Paul Hammond, formerly of Atomic Rooster...
|| 1971–1973||
|-
|Helloween
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in the mid 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool. The band was a pioneering force in the European Power Metal movement and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt...
|| 1984-present||
|-
|The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience were an English-American psychedelic rock band that formed in London in October 1966. Comprising eponymous singer-songwriter and guitarist Jimi Hendrix, bassist and backing vocalist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, the band was active until June 1969, in which...
|| 1966–1970 || Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
established a sonically heavy yet technically proficient bent to rock music as a whole, significantly furthering the development of hard rock and paving the way for heavy metal.
|-
|High Tide || 1969–1970||
|}
I
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|Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly is a US psychedelic rock band best known for the 1968 hit "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida".Their heyday was the late 1960s, but the band has been reincarnated with various members. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is the 31st best-selling album in the world, selling more than 25 million copies.-History:The...
|| 1966–present ||
|-
|Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
|1975-present
|
|}
J
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|Jerusalem
Jerusalem (British band)
Jerusalem was an early 1970s British heavy rock band.The five-member band released one self-titled album worldwide in 1972 on Deram Records , produced by Ian Gillan of Deep Purple...
|| 1972||
|-
|Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull (band)
Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
|| 1967–present || Won first heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
Grammy award.
|-
|Josefus
Josefus
Josefus was a rock band from Houston who have been credited for being "one of the first models for the blunt sound of Texas hard rock and heavy metal." They were also mentioned in an article in Classic Rock titled, "The Lost Pioneers of Heavy Metal"...
|| 1969–2005||
|-
|Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
||1969–present|| Judas Priest are considered to be one of the most significant bands in heavy metal. They introduced a newer metal sound with their 1980 release British Steel
British Steel (album)
British Steel is the sixth album by the British heavy metal band Judas Priest, released on 14 April 1980. It saw the band reprise the commercial sound they had established on Killing Machine however; this time, they abandoned many of the dark lyrical themes which had been prominent on their...
. Judas Priest are also well known for eliminating most of metal's blues influence.
|}
K
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|Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
|| 1972–present || Kiss rose to prominence in the mid and late-1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting, smoking guitars, and pyrotechnics.
|}
L
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|Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
|| 1968–1980|| With their heavy, guitar-driven sound, Led Zeppelin are regarded as one of the first heavy metal bands. Their song Stairway to Heaven
Stairway to Heaven
"Stairway to Heaven" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released in late 1971. It was composed by guitarist Jimmy Page and vocalist Robert Plant for the band's untitled fourth studio album . The song, running eight minutes and two seconds, is composed of several sections, which...
is often named the most played song in the history of rock and metal radio.
|-
|Lucifer's Friend
Lucifer's Friend
Lucifer's Friend was a 1970s German Rock band. Allmusic author, Eduardo Rivadavia, noted the group as, "early practitioners of heavy metal and progressive rock." They also incorporated elements of jazz into their music. The band have also been cited as one of the pioneers of doom metal.-History:The...
|| 1970–1982, 1993–1997 ||
|-
|Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
|1964–present
|
|}
M
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|-
|Manowar || 1980-present ||
|-
|Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
|| 1967–present ||
|-
|Mercyful Fate
Mercyful Fate
Mercyful Fate was a Danish heavy metal band from Copenhagen. Initially active from 1981 to 1985, they reunited in 1992. The band went on hiatus again in 2000, when frontman King Diamond decided to continue his solo career...
|| 1981–1985, 1992–2000 (hiatus) ||
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|Montrose
Montrose (band)
Montrose was a California-based hard rock band. The band originally featured Ronnie Montrose on guitar and future solo artist and former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar...
|| 1973–1976, 2005 ||
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|Motörhead || 1977–present ||
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|Mountain
Mountain (band)
Mountain is an American hard rock band that formed in Long Island, New York in 1969. Originally comprising vocalist and guitarist Leslie West, bassist Felix Pappalardi and drummer N. D. Smart, the band broke up in 1972 before reuniting in 1974 and remaining active until today...
|| 1969–1972, 1973–present||
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|Nazareth
Nazareth (band)
Nazareth is a Scottish hard rock band, founded in 1968, that had several hits in the UK in the early 1970s, and established an international audience with their 1975 album Hair of the Dog. Perhaps their best-known hit single was a cover of the ballad "Love Hurts", in 1975...
|| 1968–present||
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|Necromandus
Necromandus
Necromandus were a rock band from Cumberland, United Kingdom. They were formed in 1970 and were discovered by Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath in 1972. After recording one album in 1973, they split up. The album was not released until 1999. In 2007 they were mentioned in an article in Classic Rock...
|| 1970–1973||
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|Night Sun
Night Sun
Night Sun were a German heavy prog/metal band consisting of Bruno Schaab , Walter Kirchgassner , Knut Rossler and Ulrich Staudt ....
|| 1970–1973||
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O
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|Pentagram
Pentagram (band)
Pentagram is a American heavy metal band from Virginia, most famous as one of the pioneers of doom metal. The band was prolific in the underground scene of the 1970s, producing many demos and rehearsal tapes, but did not release a full-length album until reforming in the early 1980s with an almost...
|| 1971–1976, 1978–1979, 1981–present || Along with Black Sabbath, Pentagram is considered one of the most important groups in the creation of doom metal
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
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Q
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|Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
|| 1970–1997 ||
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|Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot is an American Heavy Metal band. They are best known for their hit singles "Metal Health" and "Cum On Feel the Noize". They were founded in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni, under the original name Mach 1, before changing the name to Little Women and finally Quiet...
|| 1975–2008||
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R
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|Rainbow
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
|| 1975–1984, 1993–1997 ||
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|Running Wild
Running Wild (band)
Running Wild is a German heavy metal band, formed in 1976 in Hamburg. They were part of the German heavy/speed/power metal scene to emerge in the early to mid 1980s. The band has carved its niche in the metal world as the first "pirate metal" band, a theme which took off with the release of Under...
|| 1976–2009, 2011-present || With speedy riffs and themes about the open sea, Running Wild has been labeled as the world's first pirate metal band.
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|Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
|| 1968–present ||Known for their musicianship, this trio has created complex, often epic compositions, with eclectic lyrical motifs, and changing styles over the years. Beginning with blues-inspired on their first album, then encompassing hard rock, progressive rock, a period with heavy use of synthesizers, returning to a modern hard rock sound. Never truly mainstream nor universally lauded, Rush nonetheless have had great commercial success (behind only The Beatles and Rolling Stones in the top 3 rock bands with most consecutive gold albums) and received numerous awards and nominations, with each member having received acknowledgment of their proficiency through coverage in a variety of music publications. They have been cited as an influence by various musical artists both within the scope of "heavy metal" and without.
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|Saxon
Saxon (band)
Saxon are an English heavy metal band, formed in 1976 in Barnsley, Yorkshire. As front-runners of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, they had 8 UK Top 40 albums in the 1980s including 4 UK Top 10 albums. Saxon also had numerous singles in the Top 20 singles chart...
|| 1976–present||
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|Scorpions
Scorpions (band)
Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still...
|| 1965–present||
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|Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
||1969–1984, 1996–present, ||
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|Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister is an American heavy metal band from Long Island. Musically, the band implements elements of traditional heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, along with a style that is similar to early glam metal bands...
|| 1972–1988, 1997–present ||
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|Trust
Trust (band)
Trust is a French rock band closely associated with both AC/DC and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal.-History:Trust was founded in 1977 by:* Bernard "Bernie" Bonvoisin * Norbert "Nono" Krief...
||1977–present ||
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U
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|UFO
UFO (band)
UFO are an English heavy metal and hard rock band, who were formed in 1969. UFO became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal...
|| 1969–1988, 1992–present ||
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|Uriah Heep
Uriah Heep (band)
Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969 and regarded as a seminal classic hard rock act of the 1970s. Uriah Heep's progressive/art rock/heavy metal fusion's distinctive features have always been massive keyboards sound, strong vocal harmonies and David Byron's operatic vocals...
|| 1969–present ||
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|Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
|| 1976–present || Van Halen set the stage for many successful heavy metal bands in the 1980s. They are considered ahead of their time and have had an impact on metal that rivals even Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Metallica. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen
Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
is also considered to be one of the most influential guitarists in heavy metal for his use of shredding and for popularizing two-handed tapping
Tapping
Tapping is a guitar playing technique, where a string is fretted and set into vibration as part of a single motion of being pushed onto the fretboard, as opposed to the standard technique being fretted with one hand and picked with the other...
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|Vanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge is an American rock band. The band's original lineup – vocalist/organist Mark Stein, bassist/vocalist Tim Bogert, lead guitarist/vocalist Vince Martell, and drummer/vocalist Carmine Appice – recorded five albums during the years 1966–69, before disbanding in 1970...
|| 1967–1970, 1982–1984, 1987–1988, 1991, 1999–present ||
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|Warhorse
Warhorse (70s band)
Warhorse were a British band formed by the former Deep Purple bassist, Nick Simper.-Career:Simper left Deep Purple in 1969, and joined Marsha Hunt's backing band. Not long after, Simper replaced her backing band with Ged Peck on guitar and Mac Poole on drums. When Hunt became pregnant, the band...
|| 1970–1974, (partial reunions: 1985, 2005)||
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X
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|rowspan=2|X Japan
|1982-1997
|rowspan=2|X Japan (エックス ジャパン, Ekkusu Japan) Is a popular Japanese rock band. The group was formed in Tateyama, Chiba Yoshiki and Toshi in 1982 and disbanded in 1997, renovated in 2007. Originally named X (エックス, Ekkusu), Shot to fame with their second album Blue Blood. His music is characterized by a taste for classic metal, mixed with fast drum lines and variable guitar lines with a strong progressive, and greatly influenced by classical music. X Japan has sold over 30 million albums and singles along with 2 million videos.
X Japan was dissolved in 1997 due to neglect of Toshi, arguing this rejection to sing sad songs at the moment to lead a happy life. In May 1998, Hide died and the rest of the group, including Taiji, gather to play at his funeral. On October 18, 2007 was officially announced the return of the group.
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|2007- Present
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Y
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|Y&T
Y&T
Y&T is an American hard rock/heavy metal band formed in 1974. They hail from Oakland, California...
|| Oakland, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States ||1974–1991, 1995–present
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See also
- Heavy metal subgenresHeavy metal subgenresA number of heavy metal genres have developed since the emergence of heavy metal during the late 1960s and early 1970s. At times heavy metal genres may overlap or are difficult to distinguish, but they can be identified by a number of traits...
- List of alternative metal artists
- List of black metal bands
- List of Christian metal bands
- List of death metal bands
- List of deathcore bands
- List of doom metal bands
- List of folk metal bands
- List of glam metal bands
- List of gothic metal bands
- List of grindcore bands
- List of groove metal bands
- List of industrial metal bands
- List of melodic death metal bands
- List of nu metal bands
- List of power metal bands
- List of progressive metal artists
- List of speed metal bands
- List of symphonic metal bands
- List of thrash metal bands
- List of Viking metal bands
- Celtic metal#List of bands
- Crust punk#List of notable crust punk bands
- MetalcoreMetalcoreMetalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
- New Wave of British Heavy Metal#List of NWOBHM artists
- Post-metal#List of notable post-metal bands
- Sludge metal#List of sludge metal bands by style
- Symphonic black metal#List of notable symphonic black metal bands